When I met Zoe, she was scared and confused. It turned out she had lost her memory and had no recollections from her past life, but she had started over and learned how to live her life again.

She only knew she’d survived a car crash eight years ago and that many doctors tried to help her regain her lost memory but they all failed over and over again.
Over time, we became close and started a relationship, tying the knot eventually.

Zoe became a published author and some of her books became bestsellers.

Our life seemed picture perfect, until the truth about her past was revealed.

When the manager of the company I worked for got fired, a new boss—Michael—from out of state joined the company.

He was nice enough to organize a get-to-know party for the employees where a plus-one was welcomed to attend. Of course, I brought Zoe with me not knowing the event would change our lives forever.

When I introduced Zoe to Michael, he stared at her as though he had seen a ghost. After a couple of seconds, he managed to utter, “Stella?”

Zoe seemed confused. She stared back at him without saying a word as Michael proceeded. “Stella, we’ve been looking for you for eight years. You’ve been here this entire time?”

I stood there frozen. My wife’s past cracked open right in front of us.

However, Zoe didn’t recognize Michael, or at least that’s what she claimed.

Before I was able to ask more questions, other people joined in, and moments later, I spotted Zoe talking to Michael. I approached them, making sure they don’t see I was there when I heard her say, “Please Michael, don’t tell anyone you’ve found me. I have started my life over, please don’t ruin this for me.”

And that’s when I realized that Zoe knew exactly who she was.
I couldn’t keep quiet and confronted her. She started crying and explained that her lost memory returned some two years ago, and she was too scared to share that with me, not wanting her past life to affect our present.

It turned out that when she got involved in the crash, she was together with her ex-boyfriend who was abusive. In fact, when the police found her, he wasn’t by her side but left her there to die.

Michael confirmed her story.

At that moment, my wife, the person I loved and trusted unconditionally, felt like a perfect stranger.

But I loved her for who she was, and I was willing to protect her from her past no matter what. I promised to never let anyone hurt her ever again.

This felt like a yet new beginning for the both of us.